Victim of Love (Erasure song)

This article is about the Erasure song. For other songs with the same title, see Victim of Love (disambiguation).

"Victim of Love"
Single by Erasure
from the album The Circus
B-side	"The Soldier's Return"
Released	18 May 1987 (1987-05-18)
Recorded	1986
Genre	Pop [1] [2]
Length	3:40
Label	Mute (UK) Sire (US)
Songwriters	Vince Clarke Andy Bell
Producer	Flood
Erasure singles chronology
"It Doesn't Have to Be" (1987) "Victim of Love" (1987) "The Circus" (1987)
Music video
"Victim of Love" on YouTube

"Victim of Love" is a song by the English synth-pop duo Erasure, released on 18 May 1987 as their sixth single overall. It was the third single to be lifted from the duo's second studio album, The Circus (1987), released six weeks earlier, and was remixed for single release. Written by band members Vince Clarke and Andy Bell, it incorporates the signature Erasure sound of uptempo rhythm, analogue synthesizer and a prominent acoustic guitar. Bell's lyrics pertain to one's apprehension when entering into a new love relationship. The song's protagonist doesn't "want to look like some kind of fool" or become a "victim of love". Upon its release, it became the second UK Top 10 single for Erasure, peaking at number seven. It also hit number one on the US Hot Dance Music/Club Play chart (Clarke and Bell would have to wait eighteen years before their second US Dance chart-topper). The song remains one of Erasure's signature songs and is a concert favourite^{[ citation needed ]}.

Critical reception

Chris Gerard from Metro Weekly wrote, ""Victim of Love" is a perfect pop single; Bell's soulful vocals shine, the melody is catchy and memorable, and the track has an insistent rhythm buoyed (like their breakthrough single, "Sometimes") by a strong acoustic guitar part." ^[1]

Track listings

7", Mute / MUTE 61 (UK) "Victim of Love" (remix) – 3:38 "The Soldier's Return" – 3:05 12", Mute / 12 MUTE 61 (UK) "Victim of Love" (extended mix) – 6:59 "The Soldier's Return" (The Return of the Radical Radcliffe mix) – 5:00 "Victim of Love" (dub mix) – 3:29 12", Mute / L12 MUTE 61 (UK) "Victim of Love" (Vixen Vitesse mix) – 5:42 "The Soldier's Return" (The Machinery mix) – 4:16 "If I Could" (Japanese mix) – 3:40 12", Sire-Reprise / 20740-0 (UK) "Victim of Love" (Vixen Vitesse mix) – 5:42 "Soldier's Return" (Machinery mix) – 5:02 "Victim of Love" (extended mix) – 6:59 "Victim of Love" (dub mix) – 3:26

CD, Mute / CD MUTE 61 (UK) "Safety in Numbers" (recorded live) – 1:28 "Victim of Love" – 3:26 "The Soldier's Return" (The Return of the Radical Radcliffe mix) – 5:00 "Victim of Love" (dub mix) – 3:29 "Don't Dance" (recorded live) – 3:53 "Leave Me to Bleed" (recorded live) – 3:42 Track 1 recorded 27 April 1987 (1987-04-27), Hamburg Tracks 5 and 6 recorded 17 April 1987 (1987-04-17), Brighton Dome

Charts

Chart (1987)	Peak position
Denmark (IFPI) [3]	15
Ireland (IRMA) [4]	7
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade) [5]	22
UK Singles (Official Charts Company) [6]	7
US Billboard Hot Dance Club Play [7]	1
US Billboard Hot Dance Music/Maxi-Singles Sales [8]	37
West Germany (Media Control Charts) [9]	26

References

1. Gerard, Chris (2014-09-17). "Erasure's 40 Greatest Tracks". Metro Weekly . Retrieved 2020-11-21.
2. Eames, Tom (June 13, 2023). "Erasure's 10 greatest songs, ranked". Smooth Radio . Retrieved January 3, 2025.
3. Danish Singles Chart 19 June 1987
4. Jaclyn Ward. "The Irish Charts - All there is to know". Irishcharts.ie. Retrieved 2012-06-24.
5. Steffen Hung. "Erasure - Victim Of Love". hitparade.ch. Retrieved 2012-06-24.
6. "The Official Charts Company - Victim Of Love by Erasure Search". The Official Charts Company. 6 May 2013.
7. "Music News, Reviews, Articles, Information, News Online & Free Music". Billboard.com. Retrieved 2012-06-24.
8. "Music Search, Recommendations, Videos and Reviews". AllMusic. 2012-06-20. Retrieved 2012-06-24.
9. "charts.de". charts.de. 1987-05-18. Archived from the original on October 18, 2014. Retrieved 2012-06-24.

External links

• " Victim of Love " at Discogs (list of releases)